Wednesday, May 17, 2006

Commissioner changes political parties, becoming Libertarian

Jane Moorman News-Bulletin Staff Writer; jmoorman@news-bulletin.com

When voters go to the polls on June 6, the name of one Valencia County Commission candidate will be missing.

Incumbent Paul Trujillo decided before the major party filing in date on March 21 to change parties. He has switched from the Democratic Party to the Libertarian Party officially on May 4.

Because of that decision, Trujillo said he will file his candidacy the day after the major parties primaries.

"I think, at this level of government, there shouldn't be parties. It's more like a municipal council or school board," he said about being affiliated with a major party. "It's different if it's a state office where there is a larger population and larger area to represent."

County Democratic Party Chairman Moises Griego said he was sorry Trujillo left the party but that the party has two good candidates representing it in the race.

"Paul wasn't too active in our party," Griego said. "He always strayed away from party politics and did what his heart said was right for him."

In the November general election, he will face the Democrat chosen in the primary election and the lone Republican candidate.

Democrats running in the primary are David Medina and Adrian Pino. The sole Republican candidate is Alberto Carrillo.

Trujillo said he selected the Libertarian Party because its philosophies resonate best with him.

The national organization's Web site says that Libertarians "are neither liberal nor conservative, but rather advocate a high degree of both personal and economic liberty. Libertarians believe that you have the right to live your life as you wish, without the government interfering, as long as you don't violate the rights of others," it said.

However, Trujillo says he's not an ideologist no matter which party he joins.

"I don't follow ideology. I listen to the situation and see what can be done in that situation," he said. "And, as far as the county government is concerned, I believe the problems facing the county are not partisan problems. It doesn't matter what party the constituents are affiliated with, as a commissioner I am serving them all."

When looking at the problems facing Valencia County, Trujillo says sometimes partisan politics can get in the way of what is best for the constituents.

"We have a lot of problems in this county — roads, nuisances, areas that need to be cleaned up and economics. We have to get the partisan politics out of the picture to solve the problems," he said.

"As commissioners, we have to work with Democrats and Republicans to facilitate a sound economic base for the county. Problems are going to be solved by working with whoever is best for the betterment of the county as a whole."

Trujillo says party affiliation has not been his driving force during his terms in office as a county commissioner and Belen School Board member.

"As long as I've been in an elected position, it's been about what's best for your constituents. A question I have had to ask myself is 'Who is my client? The party or the resident.'

"As an elected official, we're here to provide a service to the community, a mixture of political beliefs live on each block. To provide the best service to them, it means transcending partisanism. The nature of politics at the county level is that party lines are going to get blurred if you're doing it right."

The Valencia Affiliate of the Libertarian Party of New Mexico will have its caucus convention at 10 a.m. Tuesday, June 6, at Diane's Parkside Diner, 959 NM 315 in Los Lunas.

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